Episode 65. New Assignment
Agael had no choice but to send an escort warship if they imported iron ore from Smailan. This was because the sea they had to pass through was notorious for being the high seas.
From Smailan’s perspective, it was natural to send their own merchant ships to the escort warships in exchange for free protection, instead of selling iron ore that they didn’t have to sell.
However, once the pirates disappeared, the need for the escort warships disappeared.
Smailan had no regrets about not exporting iron ore, while Agael, who lost the iron of the Amata tribe, was in a state of shock.
So Smailan would have greatly raised the price of iron ore or attached other conditions, and eventually the deal fell through.
So, the one who started all these incidents was Prince Kydel, who eliminated the pirates of the high seas.
“Then is it because of you, Prince, or not?”
Prince Kydel thought for a moment with a puzzled expression, then answered firmly.
“That’s because of His Highness Grayon. I will confidently pass the blame.”
“Ha...”
I held back a laugh from the absurdity.
Then I opened my eyes and asked,
“Did you really foresee that?”
“Ahem.”
Prince Kydel averted his gaze and coughed. However, the mouth he covered with his fist was clearly smiling.
Because of that man, the real instigator of the Amata War, the Kingdom of Agael, bowed its head to the empire.
‘Scary human...’
His beautiful face looked creepy for some reason.
However, if it weren’t for him, I might not have known about the messenger’s visit until the very end.
The Princess’s palace was an isolated place, and His Highness Milliora was indifferent to state affairs.
He calmly accepted my blank gaze and said,
“Is it your turn to ask why I am helping you again?”
“Your Excellency won’t tell me.”
“Efficient conversation, how enjoyable.”
I laughed in vain. I couldn’t take the news I had already heard out of my ears and return it.
When I thought that this guy was going to receive interest someday, I shouldn’t be so thankful; I finally felt a little better.
“Anyway, thank you, Your Excellency. It will be a great help.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
He accepted the greeting with a formal elegance. I turned away from him and then turned back again.
“Please tell His Highness the Second Prince. I’ll do my best, but I can’t!”
I left him smiling awkwardly and returned.
The nature of the competition issue had completely changed due to Agael’s demand for iron ore exports.
“Should we export the remaining iron ore in the empire to Agael or not?”
It wasn’t hard to guess the two Princes’ answers.
Absolutely not.
His Highness the Second Prince and the influential figures of the empire had made great sacrifices for nearly two years in the Battle of Amata.
As I learned while studying this time, the scale of the manpower and materials invested was enormous.
It was impossible to give iron ore to the enemy country that started it all.
So I had to give the same answer. There’s no need to talk too much.
Just appeal to the emotions and say something like, “Your Highness Prince Grayon’s hard work and the sacrifice of the Empire cannot be in vain!”
This sudden turn of events was disconcerting, but I decided to be satisfied with the most reasonable conclusion.
***
When I went to the library the next day, the seat in front of me was neatly organized.
Since our investigation was in its final stages, I expected that Prince Kydel would not be in the library anymore.
Nevertheless, it was true that I felt a sense of emptiness when I saw the empty desk.
“..?”
I found a box neatly placed next to my pile of books and carefully opened it.
Inside was a folded, thin, long pillow-like thing made of cotton.
I unfolded the card.
“It’s a popular item at the academy. It’s good for taking a quick nap while studying.”
Does having a handsome face make your handwriting pretty?
His neat and elegant handwriting was a bit unfortunate, but I neatly put the card back in the envelope.
Then I returned to my room with the box.
“You’re really good at doing useless things.”
***
My peace was broken by Her Highness Milliora's call.
When I went to her bedroom, she had her closet door wide open.
She glared at the closet and said to me,
"Choose a party dress. Can't you, a maid, do it yourself?"
"A party?"
“His Majesty’s birthday party has been moved up by three days. I don’t like parties hosted by His Majesty...”
She muttered gloomily. It wasn’t hard to understand why.
The Empress would be attending a party hosted by His Majesty. She was afraid of her gaze and hated it.
She turned to me and said,
“You know you have to dress up well, right? Don’t make me lose face.”
Come to think of it, I had eleven dresses that I hadn’t worn yet.
I glared at her closet, trying to choose one for her. I thought it would be enough, but when I took out one dress, she got annoyed.
“What did I expect from you! Are you preparing well for the competition? You do something like that.”
Since I didn’t know anything about her taste in choosing dresses, her annoyance didn’t bother me that much.
I couldn’t tell her that I had heard from Prince Kydel about the news of the Agael envoy, so I answered briefly.
“Yes. Don’t worry about the preparations.”
“You have to win this time, too. You know?”
I felt that it was coming. I couldn’t help but ask.
“Your Highness, do you want to be an Emperor in the future?”
I know I was too caught up in the conversation. But I felt that I had to hit the nail on the head to get Her Highness Milliora to reveal her true feelings. Indeed, her eyes widened and her lips trembled as she looked around.
“Are you crazy! Are you going to kill me for saying such things? I wouldn’t give you an Emperor for nothing! How much I regret being born into the royal family...”
She bit her lip and looked away, letting out words she shouldn’t have.
I tried to console her.
“Then why are you so greedy for victory in the competition? Your Highness was like that, too. You’re afraid of your brothers.”
“That’s right!”
“Your Highness, you’ve won your first victory. Shouldn’t you be considerate of your next victory so that it can go to His Highnesses, Your Highness?”
“You! Is that all you’re saying because you don’t want to work?”
“I will prepare well so that Your Highness does not lose face. However, unless Your Highness truly wants to compete with the Princes, it is not good to be greedy for victory.”
“...Cheeky girl!”
The Princess threw the dress I had taken out to try on on the floor and went to the sofa. I could hear her grumbling.
When I approached her, she was quietly shedding tears.
“You are right, you are right! But I felt good that the kids thought highly of me.”
She was greedy for the competition, not because of the sense of victory from beating her brothers, but to show off to the Tea Party members.
Maybe it was good.
I felt a sense of pity that I had never felt even with Misha.
Should I feel this way about Tagar, the master of the world?
She said with tears falling down her face.
“If I lose this time, the kids will try to comfort me, but I really don’t want to hear that. I can’t stand hearing that because it makes me feel pathetic.”
I sat down in front of the sofa and spoke to her.
“Then I’ll tell the Tea Party ladies in advance. The maids usually convey their master’s wishes, right?”
“...Right? The royal family usually uses their servants to talk about uncomfortable things.”
“Yes. That’s why.”
She pursed her lips and then said.
“Actually, I was scared, too. I was afraid that my brothers would get angry. However, no matter how well I did, His Majesty would never treat me better than my brothers, so I thought it would be okay to do it once more...”
“However, the Princes’ reputations are important too. The entire empire is watching this competition.”
She said gloomily.
“Yes. Yes. Just talk to the kids. I’m not the type of person to get upset over competitions. I just don’t like them comforting me. Isn’t it rude to comfort Tagar?”
“Of course. Of course.”
She glared at me and waved her hand.
“You go and get some clothes.”
“Yes?”
“Bring me a few of your dresses. I got goosebumps just seeing what you chose! For the party, wear what I choose.”
“...Yes, Your Highness.”
Who would have thought that I would one day wear clothes chosen by royalty?
I went back to my room and picked out three random dresses, and Her Highness Milliora criticized my taste for a while before choosing one.
But instead of feeling bad, I was slightly amused. After all, what Her Highness Milliora was really criticizing was not me, but the taste of the Countess who bought my dresses.
The proud taste of the third lion’s wife. Hehe.
***
The birthday party of His Majesty was an event that the entire empire was excited about.
It was more like a festival of the empire than the personal birthday of His Majesty the Emperor.
Therefore, even the weak nobles and commoners who could not attend the party held at the palace held their own parties and enjoyed themselves.
Of course, when I was at the Count’s residence, I was home alone after the Count and his wife, and Misha went to the palace party.
So this was the first palace party I had ever attended in my life. A girl from the Tunbar mountain village had become this successful.
I stood behind the Princess with a solemn face while she bowed and congratulated Her Majesty, the Emperor, and his wife on their birthday. There was nothing special for me to do at the party other than to stay by her side.
I looked around the banquet hall to see the party, and I saw the young ladies’ eyes all turned to one side.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment